Voice of the People, Oct. 25

October 25, 2012

Women voters (Donna Grethen)

Women voters

I am amazed and appalled at how many seemingly intelligent women buy into the canard that Mitt Romney (and Republicans in general) "hates women." The so-called evidence of this is that the Republican Party does not endorse Barack Obama's latest entitlement of free contraception for all.

Never mind that such a far-reaching program could not possibly be free; it merely transfers the cost from one payer to another. Never mind that this is a blatant bribe to buy votes from those who think they are getting something for nothing. Never mind that the program is a broadside attack on religious freedom.

Such an enormous, expensive encroachment of the government into an area in which it does not belong in the first place, in a time of continuing recession, is unconscionable.

Americans are asked to make prudent provisions through personal accountability on many levels — e.g., purchasing homeowner's or renter's insurance, buying auto insurance, putting money aside for a rainy day. Why is birth control all of a sudden the government's responsibility?

Republicans, in opposing another government encroachment, are accused of waging a war on women. The implication is that women (and, it is rumored, men might somehow be involved as well) are incapable of family planning without Big Brother overseeing and regulating it. Contrast this with an actual war on women, currently being waged by the Taliban, as evidenced by the attempted assassination of a young Pakistani girl who had the temerity to speak out in favor of education for females.

I hope that women are smart enough to recognize where the true war on women is being waged.

— Mary Williams Stone, Wilmette

Women's future

Mitt Romney's position on women should be of grave concern. Certainly a man who has spent most of his adult life in private business has met qualified, capable women over the course of that time.

Elect Romney and his naive, antiquated view of women underscored by a faith history that precludes women from holding positions of consequence in his church and women's progress will stall and reverse.

Women, if you want to continue to fight the battles we've thought were won, then Romney should be your choice.

Not for me; I choose to build on the progress women have made and will cast my vote for a man who views women as equals. Yes, President Barack Obama gets my vote, again. Let's continue to move the rights of women forward.

— Kerrie Rosenthal, Palatine

GOP and women

If women are thinking of voting for Mitt Romney, they better look again — and again and again. I say this because he has had so many positions on women's issues of health and reproductive rights that their heads should be spinning. Economics has a lot to do with your family planning, but the right doesn't want women to have choice on when and even if they want children.

— Vicki Hilden, Arlington Heights

Old hospitals

Let's put this Prentice Hospital issue to rest once and for all. Northwestern University is the owner of this property, which sits on one of the most expensive pieces of land in the city and one of the least utilized per square foot. The only logical thing is to demolish it and let the university erect a building more suitable for its research department. And, while we are at it, how about demolishing the old Cook County Hospital, which serves no purpose and is unsuitable for any sort of remodeling and which also sits on property that could be put to better use?

— Ronald H. Rodriguez, Chicago

Job creation

This is in response to letter writer Mitch Johnson's question: "Have you ever seen a poor person create a job?" (Voice of the People, Oct. 19). Yes, every day, because poor people still buy food and clothes and energy and entertainment; that creates demand. My question is, has he ever seen a tax cut create a job? The only thing that creates jobs is demand.

— Dave Atkins, Chicago

AWOL mayor

Has anyone heard that all issues that have historically challenged Chicago — kids being shot on the streets, under-funded pensions for city employees, poor performance of the public school system, unemployment — have been resolved? Why else would Mayor Rahm Emanuel have had time to campaign for Barack Obama?

— Matt Buckley, Orland Park

Unsafe boys

First it was the priests; now it is the Boy Scouts. Absolutely disgusting! Funny how these allegations aren't about nuns and Girl Scout leaders. Why aren't our boys safe?